The opportunity to be together and study God’s word, be it during our bi-weekly Bible studies, a Gospel meeting, or during a VBS, is worth taking time for even if it means rearranging your schedule. Let’s consider some reasons why. We need to take time to study because…

Study Allows One To Meditate On God’s Word: Sometimes, in the middle of all the things we are busying ourselves with, meditation on God’s word goes out the window. However, we must spend time carefully considering (meditating on) the word of God. The righteous man described in Psalm 1 finds “Delight in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night” (vs. 4). As righteous men and women we should find delight in the Word from God and desire to spend time meditating on those words. Paul, commanding that we meditate on the things of God, states, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things” (Phil. 4:8). During our times of study we are afforded a wonderful opportunity for meditation.

Study Allows One To Grow In Knowledge: The one who would serve God must desire the knowledge from above. Solomon wrote, “Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her” (Prov. 8:10-11). We will take time to study when we have this thirst for spiritual knowledge. A Christian suffering from a lack of knowledge is a Christian in danger of losing their soul. Therefore, it is commanded, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). The times that we study together are times when we can increase our knowledge of those things that will last into eternity revealed to us by our Savior through the Holy Spirit.

Joint Study Allows One To Encourage And Be Encouraged: The Hebrew writer states, “Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:24-25). When we are together, we can encourage others to greater faithfulness and we are in turn encouraged by them. When we are at every service and study, we are availing ourselves of the opportunity to encourage and be encouraged.

Study Allows One To Prepare For Judgment: I see the need to study privately and with others at every opportunity when I realize that study helps to prepare me for Judgment. Paul told Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15). In study, I am increasing in knowledge and by living that knowledge I will be approved by God and not be ashamed on that Day. Many will stand before the Lord red-faced — ashamed because they did not spend time to study that they might have known His will. Remember that Jesus will come on that Day “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1:8). When we come to study God’s word, we are preparing ourselves for Judgment!

Do you take time for Bible study with us?

David Eldridge